The Dangers of Totalitarianism in "1984"

Summary: George Orwell's "1984" is a disturbing portait of a totalitarian government bent on control of a populace through power. Imagery, symbolism, characterisation and foreshadowing are use to portray the dangers of a totalitarian society, the power of psychological manipulation and physical control, and the control of information and technology.

Published in 1949, within the acclaimed classic "1984", Orwell narrates the utterly hopeless, bleak and harsh realities of a predicted completely totalitarian dystopic world. Orwell portrays a grim future, where imagined political leaders manipulate the multitudes - primarily the `proles' or proletariats - into placing infinite faith on their power. Through imagery, symbolism, characterisation and foreshadowing, the novel discusses the dangers of a totalitarian society, the power of psychological manipulation and physical control, control of information and technology. Orwell effectively conveys his attitudes regarding the possibility that the government could come to control everything, through means of mind control and torture. Overall, "1984" is a brilliant piece of artwork, a painstakingly on-target portrayal of Orwell's view.

Within Orwell's elaborately constructed society, the responder follows the novel through the viewpoint of a certain Winston Smith, an older occupant of the State who works for the Party, skilfully rewriting the past to suit...